Pipe-covering



(No Model.) R. H. MARTIN.

PIPE COVERING. No. 550,282. Patented Nov. 26, 1895 BY M fi ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT H. MARTIN, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PIPE-COVERING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,282, dated November 26, 1895.

Application filed April 17, 1894. Serial No. 507,901.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT H. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Coverings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved nonconducting covering for heated surfaces and analogous uses; and it consists, generally stated, in winding upon a mandrel or Otherwise a series of layers or thicknesses of nonconducting material, bringing the same into a fiat condition, somewhat resembling that of a bolt Of cloth, and then bringing the edges of the flattened product into contact, or substantial contact, with each other, so that a structure resembling a longitudinally-split tube is produced, and I sometimes leave a portion of the outermost layer or thickness of material projecting to form a flap or sealing strip at the meeting edges, which may be conveniently used to overlap the joint when the covering is in position upon a pipe or other surface to secure the same in place. I also sometimes prefer to corrugate or indent the fabric from which the non-conducting covering is made, so that innumerable air spaces or recesses may be formed in the completed structure,whereby its utility as a non-conductor of heat or cold is materially increased. I sometimes, also, employ adhesive material between the several layers constituting the completed covering, whereby the structure is held together and made stronger, so that it retains its shape better.

In the drawings hereof, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 illustrate the various steps in the process of manufacturing tubular sectional coverings under my invention when a round mandrel or former is used upon which to Wind the layers of material. Fig. 1 illustrates an end view of a series of layers of the material which have been wound upon a mandrel or former and then removed therefrom. Fig. 2 illustrates the tube thus formed when collapsed or flatened, so that the two sides of thetube rest upon each other. Fig. 3 illustrates the structure shown in Fig. 2, the edges being curled or rolled up nearly into contact with each other, thus forming a split tube as long as the length of the bolt shown in Fig. 2-in other words,

(No model.)

as long as the width of the material wound up, as shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3, also, the projecting end or flap of the outside layer or ply of the material is shown adapted to act as a sealing and attaching strip by overlapping the joint when the covering is in place upon the surface to be protected. Fig. 4 illustrates the covering as it is when in position upon a pipe. The pipe is not shown. Fig. 5 illustrates the structure shown in Fig. 2, the material, however, being corrugated or indented, whereby innumerable air-spaces are formed.

To describe more in detail the method and product which constitute my invention, I take any suitable fabric, which may be composed of asbestos, wholly or partly, or a paper-like fabric, paper-felt, hair-felt, or any of these latter combined with an asbestos sheet or sheet formed partly of asbestos or other fireproof material. The character of the fabric is, however, unimportant. I roll this fabric up, as shown at A, upon a mandrel or former, which may be cylindrical and which will produce a cylindrical product in the first instance, as shown in Fig. 1, or the mandrel may be flatsided or of any other preferred cross-section, or the fabric may be wound upon itself without a mandrel, and during the winding operation I sometimes apply adhesive material to the surface of the fabric or web as it is being wound up, so that in the completed product the several layers will be attached together with more or less firmness, as desired,

and also I sometimes deposit fillers upon thefabric or web while it isbeing wound up, such as infusorial earth, fossil meal, magnesia, or

other granular or powdered material or fibers, such as asbestos, hair, wool, or other nonconducting material; also, sheets of paper, felt, wire-cloth, or the like may be introduced for non-conducting purposes or for strengthening the product. One .way in which to introduce the filler is to stand the tubular product after it has been removed from the mandrel (if one has been used) on end and then fill the tube with the filler, of whatever character it may be, then flatten the tube by pressure, as stated. I also sometimes during the manufacture of the fabric or web which is to be wound up into the non-conducting covering incorporate the fillers above named in it, and the filleFs will be retained in the covering, whether added during the rollingup of the fabric or by being incorporated in its substance, by reason of the fact that the ends of the spaces between layers of the material composing the covering are closed, so that any loose material or material which may become loose during use of the covering will be confined in place by the pockets formed by the winding of the material. I11 this respect my covering is difierent from sectional coverings which have heretofore been made, in which the rolled-up tubes are cut across lengthwise, thus allowing the several plies or layers to separate, and also different from those in which the layers have been folded back upon themselves, instead of being wound around and around upon themselves.

It is not essential, as above stated, that a former or mandrel should be used upon which to wind the fabric preparatory to flattening it. On the contrary, it may be simply wound over and over upon itself. The presence of a mandrel or formerfiat or round, as the case may be is, however, preferred, because then the products are more accurate in measurement, and friction being applied to the fabric as it is wound on the formers the several layers are pulled down into snug contact with each other, and whatever methodsmay be practiced I sometimes apply adhesive material to the surface of the fabric, so that it will adhere to the adjoining layers or plies, and I prefer to roll or curl the material into tubular form while the adhesive substance is still wet, so that the parts may slide over each other somewhat and thus adjust themselves to the tubular form, and then when the adhesive material dries it will aid in maintaining such tubular form.

B is the end of the outside layer of the fabric, which, as above stated, I sometimes allow to project a few inches, more or less, as desired, so that itmay be used as a flap to bridge over the joint or seam between the two abutting edges of the tubular covering when coiled up. It may be fastened down upon the adjoining edge by suitable cementing material, or by tacks, stitching, or otherwise.

In Fig. 4: I show at C an interlining, which may be a cement-like material, or preferably a paper, felt, or cloth-like fabric, composed of any suitable fireproof material. The wellknown products, either fire-felt or asbestos sponge, now largely used as an under layer, resting immediately upon the hot surface to protect the body of the non-conductin g covering against charring or fire, maybe advantageously used for this purpose. I prefer to attach this lining to the covering made under my method, so that it will all be transported and handled as an integral structure. It may, however, be separate, if preferred.

In Fig. 5 I show a section of my covering made of corrugated fabric. Instead of corrugations, it may have indentations or proj ections, the result of which in the completed covering is to supply innumerable confined air-spaces, and, inasmuch as confined air is one of the best non-conductors, this adds materially to the value of the covering for certain uses. It has also the advantage of reducing cost and Weight.

Among the benefits secured by this new form of covering are the following: No stitching or other means are necessary at the split or opening when tubular coverings are made to hold the several plies or layers together; also, any material in the form of powder or fiber which may be introduced into the covering is retained by being imprisoned between the layers so that it cannot get out; also, no cutting is required to divide the covering, in order to make it into the form of a split tube; also, the elficiency of the covering is largely increased by reason of the more thorough con finement of the airbetween the different layers of the fabric, whether it be indented or not, but particularly so when it is indented; also, it is more flexible and adapts itself readily to irregularities in the surface to be covered; also, my covering is stronger than any other form known to me.

It will be obvious to those who are familiar with this art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essentials of the invention. I therefore do not limit myself to the details of construction.

I claim A non-conducting tubular covering, consisting of a continuous sheet of soft, compressible and porous material wound upon itself into a plurality of superposed and flattened or collapsed layers bent into tubular form, for the purposes set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 12th day of March, A. D. 1894:.

ROBERT l-I. MARTIN.

lVitnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, JOHN E. LACY.

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